The Grapevine

When we have reason to drive up into the San Joaquin Valley of California, we take a journey through a mountainous area called The Grapevine. What you are looking at in this photo, is the start of the southern ascent through the Tejon Pass.

It begins at the area called The Grapevine and rapidly ascends almost 3 thousand feet in about 10 miles or so. You hit a plateau toward the top of the pass, at a place called Lebec. Off to the right you pass Frazier Mountain area, which is the closest place we in Santa Clarita, can access snow in the winter. I used to bring my son there quite often, to sled as a child. A quick lift after that exit and you reach the crest of the pass at 4144 feet. You then begin a gradual descent to the Santa Clarita area, passing Gorman (a rest stop), Quail Lake, Pyramid Lake and eventually Castaic Lake at the north end of Santa Clarita, the City where I live.

As you can see in the photo, it is a beautiful pass, with the mountains surrounding the area looking almost like God painted them onto a canvas. Especially around Gorman, it has this look and part of that is due to the fact that you are passing right through the San Andreas Fault Zone and I guess the action of the 2 plates, makes it look so lovely. Something good coming from something bad. Quail Lake, though man made, sits right on the fault zone, as it bends away from Interstate 5, going toward the east and eventually, Palmdale.

The Pass is so hard to get up, that in bad weather, you will hear that I-5 is closed at The Grapevine. That is so that people don't cause major accidents through this very dangerous area. They either get an escort from the CHP, or they travel all the way to Palmdale and take another route to the Southern California area.

I hope you enjoyed a little road trip.